Scotland’s cancer waiting times worst on record

Scotland’s cancer waiting times have risen to their worst levels since records began more than a decade ago.

Data from Public Health Scotland (PHS) shows nearly a third of Scots referred to the NHS with an urgent suspicion of cancer did not begin treatment within the 62-day target.

Only 68.9% of those patients referred between January and March started treatment within 62 days, compared to 73.5% the previous quarter and 70.5% in the quarter ending in March 2024.

The figure remains well below pre-pandemic levels, with 83.7% of people having been seen within the 62-day target in the quarter ending December 2019.

The 62-day standard has not been met since the last quarter of 2012.

In the first four months of this year only one of Scotland’s 14 NHS boards reached the target, with 95.8% of patients being seen within 62 days at NHS Lanarkshire.

The target for 95% of patients to start treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat has also not been met.

Some 94.1% of eligible patients were treated within that timeframe, down from 94.1% the previous quarter and 96.5% in the last quarter of 2019.

There were 4,373 referrals made under the 62-day target, up 1.5% since the last quarter of 2024 and an increase of 17.5% since before the pandemic.

Some 6,792 referrals were made under the 31-day target, a fall of 0.1% in the previous quarter but an increase of 6.3% since before Covid.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “These appalling statistics confirm Scotland is facing a ticking timebomb when it comes to cancer cases on the SNP’s watch.

“One cancer patient waiting over two months to start cancer treatment is one too many, but now nearly a third of patients are facing these deadly waits, which is devastating for those involved and their families.

“SNP ministers have not met their own waiting time target in over a decade and need to cut out their pitiful excuses and act now.

“Neil Gray needs to accept he is failing to tackle Scotland’s cancer crisis and change his approach now. It is time for him to back our common-sense plans to cut bureaucracy and get resources to the frontline urgently.”

Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, warned that “cancer patients cannot depend on this SNP government”.

He said: “Waiting times have spiralled to the worst on record and the target has never been met since the SNP introduced it almost 15 years ago. Scotland now has the worst shortage of oncologists of any UK nation.

“It is appalling that people are enduring these lengthy waits when early intervention is crucial to survival in cancer cases.

“Access to screening programmes, diagnosis and treatment is a postcode lottery across the country. We need serious investment in both diagnostics and staff, and an end to patchwork care.

“Staff and patients are being continually failed by a government that never matches its words with action.”

A cancer time-bomb is looming – the SNP must act now to cut these dangerously long waits and deliver the urgent, life-saving care Scottish cancer patients need.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie added: “These disastrous figures lay bare the true cost of the SNP’s mismanagement of our NHS.

“Cancer is Scotland’s biggest killer and swift treatment can be the difference between life and death – but under the SNP, patients are being abandoned and the founding principles of our NHS are under threat.

“A cancer time-bomb is looming – the SNP must act now to cut these dangerously long waits and deliver the urgent, life-saving care Scottish cancer patients need.

“The truth is our NHS cannot afford a third decade of SNP government – we need a new direction.”

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “It’s disappointing that the 31-day standard was narrowly missed this quarter.

“However, performance has remained steady at around 95% since the pandemic.

“The median wait for treatment is three days, and the median wait from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to treatment is 52 days, demonstrating the extensive work by staff across Scotland to treat people as quickly and effectively as possible.

“We are treating more patients with cancer on time, within both standards, compared to the same quarter six years ago – 7.7% more within the 31-day standard and 0.1% more within the 62-day standard.

“Cancer remains a national priority for the Scottish Government. We have directed £14.23 million of the £106 million in additional planned care funding for 2025/26 to cancer waiting times, with a focus on colorectal, urological and breast as our most challenged pathways.”